Lubricating system and lubricator therefor



Aug. 18, 1931. E. w. DAvls 1,319,359 LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND I ,UBRIcAToR THEREFOR Filed llarch 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Maint/@ases A Aug- 18, 1931 E. w. DAvls 1,819,359

LUBRICATING SYSTEQI AND LUBRICATOR THEREFOR @Y @KLJ Patented Aug. 18, 1,931

UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST W. DAVIS, OF OAX PARK, ILLINOIS,` ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ALEMITE CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE IIIJ'IBRICATING'k SYSTEM AND LUII 3RICA'J.OB.l THEREFOB Application led March 9, 1925. Serial No. 14,316.

My invention relates to lubricating systems i adapted for use on moving machines, such as motor vehicles. One object of my invention is to provide a lubricating system of the centralized type, which obviates the necessity of itself, and has for its obj ect in this respect the provision of an automatic lubricator rovided with means whereby movements o the vehicle acting on an inertia member, supply energy for operating one or more pumps ar- 13 ranged for supplying lubricant to the bearings to be lubricated. A more specific object is to providemeans whereby the energy supplied by the moving vehicle is stored up gradually and released suddenly. The gradge ual accumulation andsudden release of energy, combined with the inertia operated pumps, produces avery desirable combination, the advantages of which will be described hereinafter.v

- A further object of my invention, is to produce. a positive acting, multiple pum in `which a single moving part opens and c oses,

the inlet and outlet ports of all the pumps, and also servesto operate the pump plungers.

The lubricator of this invention comprises an oil receptacle adapted to supply oil to a pluralit of pumps, and an inertia member, adapte to operate the pumps and arranged to receive energy from the movements of the vehicle to which the lubricator is attached. The inertia member comprises a weight, supported by a spring, the tension of which normally balances the weight, so that movement of the vehicle will cause movement; of the -weight, relative to the oil receptacle, due to the inertia of the weight. This movement of the weight is converted to rotary motion by means of a pawl and ratchet mechanism, and the rotary motion is transmitted to a cam shaft arranged to move a plurality of springactuated pump plungers. The cams on the cam shaft are so shaped that energy is stored ually in the plunger springs and then released suddenly. Y

Il ijoi'der to obviate the necessity of using flexible conduits between the sprung and unsprung parts-of the vehicle, two or more lubricators are attached to the vehicle; onev at least, being located on the frame or some part movable therewith, and one or more on thel axles.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of a motor vehicle showing the installation of two lubricators; one on the front axle and 1one on the dashboard. The lubricators and conduitsfare shown in full lines, to differentiate between the parts of the vehicle shown in dotted lines and the parts of the lubricating system. A limited number of conduits are illustrated in order to avoid confusion.

Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section of the lubricator proper, the' section being taken on the line 2, 2, in Fig 3.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3, 3 in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse scctims of one of the pumps with the cam shaft in dilcrent positions.

Referring to Fig. 1, the lubricator 6 is fastened to the dash-board of theveliicle, and is arranged to lubricate the bearings 7 8, 9, 10, and 11. Allthese bearings, as well as the lubricator 6, are stationary relative to the frame of the vehicle so that no flexible conduits are required to carry oil from the 1ubricatorto these bearings.

The lubricator 12, is fastened to the front axle and is arranged to lubricate the bearings 13 and 14, both of which are stationary relative to the axle on which the lubricator 12 is fastened. e

In prior lubricating systems of the ccntralzed ty e, it has been the practice to carry oil to the carings 13 and 14 by means of a iexible conduit, which, due to the mechanical abuse occasioned by the movement of the axle, soon becomes leaky. In the improved system, nollexible conduit is required, as the -bearings of each movable unit are lubricated by a lubricator attached tothesaine unit?` lso the amount of oil that can be poured into the lubricator. Secured to the bottom of the oil receptacle is a pump body 19, which is accurately reamed to receive a rotatable cam shaft 20. Secured to one end of the cam shaft 20, is a worm gear 21, which is driven by the worm 22, which is secured to the worm shalt 23. A. ratchet wheel 24, is likewise secured to the worm shaft 23, which rotates in the A vbearings 25 and 26, integral with the body 19.

The inertia weight 27 is integral with the lever 28, which is pivoted on the-worm shaft 23. The arm 29 is integral with the bearing 25 and with the body 19, and carries one end of a springy 30, which connects with the hook 31 on the lever 28. The spring 30 is tensioned to balance the inertia welght 27. A pawl 32 is pivoted on the lever 28, and engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 24.

The body 19 is bored to receive a horizontal row of plungers 33, only one of which is shown (see Fig. 3). Each plunger isfur ed towards the body 19 by a spring 34. Dri led in the body 19, in line with each plunger, is an inlet port 35, and an outlet port 36. Each outlet port is provided with a .conduit 37, which leads to one of the bearings to be lubricated. The camshaft 2() is provided with cam shaped pockets 38, each of which is in line with a plungerv 33.

The operation of this lubricator is as foly lows: The inertia weight 27, due to the movevse ments of the vehicle and its own inertia, is caused to move `with oscillating motion. The oscillating motion is converted into intermi'ttent rotary motion by means of .the pawl y32 and the ratchet wheel 24. The torque of the rotary motion is increased and its speed decreased by means of the worm 22 and the worm gear 21, therebv giving a slow rotary motion to the cam shaft 20, in the direction indicated by the arrows.

If a cam pocket is in the position shown in Fig. 3, a' slight rotation in the direction indi'- cated by the arrow will allow the plunger 33 to enter the/cam ypocket as shown in Fio. 4, thereby displacing a certain volume o? oil (assuming that the pocket is filled with oil) and discharging the oil out through the conduit 37. Continued rotation' of the cam shaft restores the plunger to its original position and opens the inlet port 35, as shown in Fig. 5. A volume of oil equal toV that displaced is then drawn into the cam pocket, as will be readily understood.

The rotation of the cam shaft is necessarily very slow, so that the outward move-ment of the plunger is also very slow. If the plunger moved inward only as fast as its outward movement, the pumping action would be very uncertain, due to leakage around the plunger. But in the construction shown, the inward movement is rapid regardless of the vspeed of the cam shaft 20. This is a valuable feature and quite essential to the sucoil level is established in said oil receptacle, an inertia. weight above said maximum oil level, a spring above said maximum oil level and tensioned to balance said inertia weight, a pawl and ratchet mechanism actuated by movement of said inertia weight, a worm gear operated by said pawland ratchet mechanism, a cam shaft driven by said worm gear, a plurality of cams on said cam shaft, and a plurality of pump plungers, each of said plunger-s being operated by one of said cams.

2. A lubrcator comprising an oil reservoir, an oscillating inertia weight pivotally mounted in said reservoir, a spring yieldingly supporting said inertia weight, means for converting the oscillating motion of said inertia weight into rotary motion, a pump having an inlet and an outlet port, integral means rotated by said last-named means for actuating said pump in one direction and-for opening and closing A said inlet and outlet ports and spring means for actuating said plunger in an opposite direction. 3. A unitary lubricant'supply device comprising an oil reservoir, an oscillatory inertia 4 voir, and integral means operated by said mechanical means for charging said pumps and for opening and closingY the inlet and outlet ports thereof.

4. A. lubricator comprising an oilreceptacle, a pump disposed within said receptacle having a chamber therein and adapted to receive oil from said receptacle, a plunger for sa1d pump, a spring for moving said plunger `into saidoil receptacle, whereby a maximum l in one direction, an inertia weight-mounted within the upper portion of said receptacle, a

cam having a gradual rise and sudden fall adaptedto actuate said plunger against the force of said spring, and means Jfor rotating said cam, said means being operated by said inertia weight.

5. A lubrieator comprising an oil receptacle, a pump located within said receptacle and adapted to receive oil therefrom, an inertia weight, means for slowly charging said pump, means for suddenly discharging said pump, and means operable by a plurality of movements of said inertia weight to actuate said charging and discharging means.

6.-A lubricator comprising an oil rei ceptacle, a pump mounted within said receptacle and having an inlet port adjacent the means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

ERNEST W. DAVIS. 

